Idaho National Guard sending 400 members to Washington DC

The following is a news release from the Idaho National Guard.

The Idaho National Guard will provide approximately 400 personnel at the request of the National Guard Bureau to assist in guarding monuments, buildings and other property throughout the National Capital Region.

Personnel being activated Thursday will travel via military aircraft and report to their duty stations no later than Friday, June 5. The mission is expected to be approximately five days in duration and personnel will serve in support of the United States Park Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

“Whether responding to a crisis in Idaho or another state, the principles of the Idaho National Guard remain the same: to help local jurisdictions, city governments and state agencies ensure public safety,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, adjutant general of Idaho and commander of the Idaho National Guard. “Regardless of where we are in the U.S., our role is to support civilian authorities and our personnel are trained to protect life, preserve property and ensure people’s right to peacefully demonstrate.”

The Idaho National Guard has deployed out of state in support of national emergencies in the past. From Hurricane Katrina in 2005, wildland fire suppression in Oregon and Washington in 2015, to Puerto Rico for Hurricane Maria recovery support in 2017, the Idaho National Guard has provided hundreds of Soldiers and Airmen over the last decade in response to national emergencies. More recently, the Idaho National Guard provided state emergency relief here at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.